Why Dave Grohl Was Right To Compare Billie Eilish To Nirvana

Billie Eilish is after blowing my mind. I usually try to present these posts formally, trying to lay out what I'm going to be writing about as best I can, but for this one, I just can't. I always research the topic I'm about to write about, and once I saw an article on Consequence of Sound that Dave Grohl, of Foo Fighters fame, had compared up and coming artist Billie Eilish to Grohl's former band, Nirvana, I needed to write about it. This particular article really grabbed my attention though, as I love Grohl and obviously Nirvana. So considering I tend to dislike the majority of mainstream music, I was intrigued about his opinion, yet here I am with my hands on my head, mouth wide open in shock, after listening to one Billie Eilish song.

Billie Eilish, 2018.

Dave Grohl was interviewed by music publication 'Consequence of Sound' on Feb 13th, 2019, I imagine to promote his new project 'Play', a 23 minute song where Grohl plays every instrument. Yes, it sounds insane, but it's a real thing. Listen to it here. But 'CoS' have promoted the interview based off of comments Grohl made on 17 Year old, Los Angeles born Musician, Billie Eilish. I didn't even know she was only 17 before writing that, Jesus Christ. Eilish was hailed as 'CoS's 'Rookie of The Year' for 2018, and they asked Grohl his opinion on her, or if he had one at all.

Multiple Dave Grohl's, recording his 23 minute song & movie, 'Play' (2018).

And my goodness, did he. Grohl began with saying that his daughters 'are obsessed with Billie', so her music has been playing throughout his house for a good while. But then, Grohl gave Eilish the compliment to rule all compliments, comparing her to Nirvana. He said, 'What's happening with Billie is the same thing that happened to Nirvana in 1991. People say, 'Is rock dead?' When I look at someone like Billie Eilish, Rock and Roll is not close to dead.' Woah. One thing I've to say here, is that Eilish's music is not Rock, so don't go listening hoping for that, but I will guarantee you will enjoy what you hear. I agree with Grohl completely here if he's saying that Eilish is Rock and Roll in terms of personality, style, confidence, even aura, to use my own sites name. She's brilliant.

Kurt Cobain (left) and Dave Grohl (right) of Nirvana performing at their 'MTV: Live & Loud' show in 1993.

I hadn't listened to any Billie Eilish material prior to writing this, to be honest. I know that she is releasing a new album at the end of March, but I had to research some songs so I could give my true opinion. And what I said in the intro is true, hands on my head, mouth wide open in shock, I was blown away. Her music is incredible. I am struggling to figure out a genre in my head though. It's not that corporate pop that dominates the Music Charts, it's not Rock, but it does have that Grunge feel if I must say. That dark tone is so very much there in her music, which I absolutely love and crave, sorry for sounding depressed, but that tone is portrayed through her voice and overall vibe, rather than a guitar tuned to Drop-C, ie, heavy as f*ck.

Billie Eilish performing live in Lincoln Hall, Chicago, 2018.

Her new album releasing in March is titled 'WHEN WE WALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?', and 3 tracks have been released so far. I listened to her most highly rated track off the album so far, called 'Bury a Friend'. Now, I sh*t you not with this. The feeling that went through me when I heard the first 5 seconds of this song, is the same feeling I felt when I heard Arctic Monkey's 'Do I Wanna Know' for the first time, Alice in Chain's 'Rooster', Nirvana's 'You Know You're Right', Oasis' 'Gas Panic', I knew it was going to be f*cking amazing, and that I was gonna absolutely love it. And I was so right, that's the song that blew my mind. LISTEN TO IT! The song is so dark in theme and lyrics, yet you can still bop your head along with it the whole way. It's incredible. I then investigated her 2017 release, 'Don't Smile At Me', you can sense the negativity I was talking about with these titles, it's great. But this is also brilliant, with standout tracks being 'Bellyache', 'Ocean Eyes' and 'My Boy', all of which I literally cannot recommend enough.

'WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?'
By Billie Eilish (2019).

So yeah, I completely agree with Grohl here. What Eilish is producing is so similar, not in terms of genre or sound, but in vibe, compared to what Kurt Cobain was doing between 1986 and 1991. And she's only 17, she's gonna be absolutely huge in a few years, and this new album release could propel her to the top. I'm a complete Eilish fan after writing this, and I can't wait to hear her album, and see what she does next. And also, for any Nirvana fans who dislike Eilish, Kurt would've loved her. Thank you for reading.